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Portable Air Conditioner Buying Guide
For some, a portable air conditioner may be the only way to get relief from summer heat and humidity. A portable air conditioner can also cut your energy use, reduce your carbon footprint and solve cooling problems in your home. Portable air conditioners aren’t quite as effective as wall or window units, so you need to choose carefully. Keep your expectations reasonable and let Pronto’s Portable Air Conditioner Buying Guide steer you to the portable that’s best for your needs.
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the five
What are the five key points I need to look at?
Check your expectations
Portable air conditioners may be the only choice for apartments, and they provide excellent supplemental cooling in homes with central air.
Cooling power
Start with a general rule of 12,000 BTUs per hour, equal to one ton, for a 500-square foot room for a portable air conditioner that will supplement central air conditioning. For standalone use, high ceilings or a space with poor insulation or window seams, increase the BTUs by 20% to 30% over the standard 12,000 BTUs for 500-square feet.
Cooling controls
Look for digital cooling controls and multiple fan speeds that provide better energy efficiency and let you reduce fan noise while you’re sleeping.
Condensation removal
It’s worth investing in an evaporating or dripless portable air conditioner for greater ease of use. Otherwise, look for water venting through the hose or deep drip pans that slide out easily.
Energy consumption
Check the energy efficiency rating (EE) to find the most power-friendly portable air conditioner. Models with Energy Star certification are at least 10 times more efficient than comparable portable air conditioners.
pronto pick
What product do we recommend?
We like the Delonghi PAC T100P 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner both for its sleek European design and for a feature set that ranges far beyond expectations. Full digital temperature and timer controls let you change the temperature at different times of day or set it to start and shut off automatically. Dripless operation, a remote control and 3-M Filtrete air filtering are considerable bonuses along with preset operating modes that eliminate the need for adjustments.
experts say
Energy Efficient Home – “…recent developments in technology allow manufacturers to produce very efficient air conditioners. A few years ago an EER (energy efficiency ratio) of 6 or 7 was considered good. Now the standard is 12 or higher.” Source: EnergyEfficientHome.com
Suite101 – “Buy according to the room space. If the unit does not have the capacity for the room, it will run constantly and never effectively cool the room. Units that are too powerful will continually cycle off and on.” Source: Suite101.com
Energy Star – “If every room air conditioner sold in the U.S. were ENERGY STAR qualified, it would prevent 1.2 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions - the equivalent emissions from 100,000 cars.” Source: Energystar.gov
hot buzz
What's the latest in the world of portable air conditioners?
Portable air conditioners are doing more around the home. The advent of dripless evaporation technology allows these machines to double as humidifiers or dehumidifiers, depending on your needs. Edgestar has gone a step further by including a heater in its AP550OZ portable air conditioner, letting you manage the climate in a room throughout the year.
Wallet Impact
What can I expect in my price range?
| Price | Description | Good Pick (see all Portable Air Conditioners) |
| $ | Cooling power has the largest impact on portable air conditioner prices, so expect fewer BTUs on units costing $400 or less. Look for digital controls, 2- or 3-speed fans and removable drip trays. Portable air conditioners at this range can be on the noisy side, so check online reviews before buying for a bedroom. |
Compare prices at 6 stores $400 - $700 |
| $$ | Spending $400-700 will get you a portable air conditioner with more power and a lot more energy efficiency. Be sure to compare the EER ratings between models and look for dripless operation, automatic timers, remote controls and reusable filters. If you want to clean and cool the air, consider a portable air conditioner with air filtration or UV lights that kill bacteria. |
Compare prices at 23 stores $475 - $850 |
| $$$ | At prices over $700 you’ll find portable air conditioners with advanced air filtration, dehumidifying or humidifying capabilities and higher BTU output for larger rooms. Prices scale into the thousands for high-capacity portables built to cool offices. Digital controls and variable fan speeds are a must, and if you’re investing in the latest technology you should look for dripless operation. |
Compare prices at 16 stores $800 - $2,060 |
shop talk
What are the terms and definitions I need to know about?
BTUs
Short for British Thermal Units, a measurement of the ability to raise or lower one pound of water one degree Farenheit. Higher BTUs indicate more cooling capacity for a portable air conditioner.
Dripless
Also known as evaporating, a portable air conditioner that removes condensation by heating accumulated water until it turns to vapor.
Drip pan
A bin at the bottom of a portable air conditioner that collects the condensation formed during cooling. Drip pans need to be removed and emptied periodically. The size of the drip pan and the amount of cooling needed determines the frequency.
EER
Short for Energy Efficiency Rating, this measures the power consumption of a portable air conditioner by dividing its BTUs per hour by the amount of power consumed per hour. Higher numbers equal greater energy efficiency.
Portable air conditioner
Also known as a room air conditioner, a self-contained cooling unit that vents hot air through an attached hose and that can travel from room to room, typically on casters.
Ton
A standard measurement of cooling power equivalent to 12,000 BTUs. A rule of thumb for air conditioners is to have one ton of cooling per 500 square feet of floor space.
Vent hose
An exhaust duct that travels outdoors from a portable air conditioner. The hose sends room heat outside and needs to be mounted through a window. Some portable air conditioners also discharge collected water through the hose.
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